[01/14/05 - 12:00 AM]Comedy Central Adds Two New Series to Its 2005 Schedule -- Scripted Comedy 'Stella' and Renegade Reality Show 'Con' with Skyler Stone

[via press release from Comedy Central]

COMEDY CENTRAL Adds Two New Series To Its 2005 Schedule --
Scripted Comedy "Stella" And Renegade Reality Show "Con" With Skyler Stone

"The State" Members Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter And David Wain
To Bring A Live-Action Adaptation Of Their Popular Stage Show "Stella" To The Small Screen

Self-Professed Con-Artist Skyler Stone Gives Viewers
A Window Into The Process Of Getting What You Want For Free

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA, January 14, 2005 -- Coming off its highest-rated and most-watched year in the network's 13-year history*, COMEDY CENTRAL roars into 2005 with series' pick-ups for two shows: the scripted comedy "Stella" from "The State" members Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter and David Wain and the renegade reality show "Con" starring newcomer Skyler Stone, it was announced today by Lauren Corrao, senior vice president original programming and head of development, COMEDY CENTRAL.
"These shows represent two important things for COMEDY CENTRAL: a chance to reinvent narrative comedy with 'Stella' and the opportunity to create and showcase new, up-and-coming talent with Skyler Stone in 'Con,'" said Corrao. "We're thrilled to be working with such great comedic talent and to continue our push towards creating comedy with an original voice."

Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter and David Wain (from cult hits "The State" and "Wet Hot American Summer") write and star in "Stella," a live-action adaptation of their popular stage show. Every episode features a new set of absurdist obstacles for our perpetually suit-clad trio as these modern-day Marx brothers embark on various misadventures, from the everyday (gaining co-op approval via a "Flashdance"-inspired dance routine) to the outrageous (performing open-heart surgery on their ex-Nazi landlord). Black, Showalter and Wain also serve as executive producers. Ten episodes of "Stella" are scheduled to air beginning in summer 2005.

Newcomer Skyler Stone and reality expert Rick de Oliveira ("Making The Band," "Real World," "Road Rules") serve as executive producers and team with co-executive producers Chris Cox and Matt Sloan to turn out a half-hour reality series that finds Stone conning his way through life. "Con" is about the entire process that Stone carefully goes through in setting up his next "hit." Situations may find him charming his way into Hollywood movie premieres, singing during the seventh inning stretch at a Major League Baseball game, getting out of a parking ticket, scoring a burger for free or scamming a free makeover. Chris Bender and JC Spink also serve as co-executive producers. Eight episodes of "Con" are scheduled to air beginning April 6, 2005.

COMEDY CENTRAL, the only all-comedy network, currently is seen in more than 86 million homes nationwide. COMEDY CENTRAL is owned by Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of MTV Networks. COMEDY CENTRAL is a registered trademark of Comedy Partners. COMEDY CENTRAL's Internet address is http://www.comedycentral.com.